Hardness
Very Hard
303 PPM · 17.7 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Elkhart, IA 50073
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Polk County.
1 reported benchmark flag
- Primary matched system
- Elkhart Water Supply
- Source water
- Groundwater
- County
- Polk County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
No active flag
0 active health-based records
Lead 90th percentile
0.0016 mg/L
11% of action level
Utility match
1 system
Serves 882 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
303 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
303
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
17.7
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 303 PPM, mineral scale can build up on fixtures and heating elements, reduce soap lather, and leave visible spotting. Hardness is primarily an aesthetic and appliance concern—not itself a tap-water safety rating.
USGS sites used
14
Nearest site
4 mi
Observation range
Jun 13, 2017–Aug 1, 2024
Estimate confidence
Moderate
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: 081N23W10BAA (Well).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 50073 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Elkhart median
303 PPM
About the same1 indexed ZIP readings · Range 303–303 PPM
Iowa median
281 PPM
22 PPM higher721 indexed ZIP readings · Range 182–834 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Contaminant snapshot
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
1 pass1 fail
Lead (PB90)
0.0016 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2023
Copper (CU90)
1.38 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2017
Numerical coverage
2 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0.0016
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.38
EPA limit 1.3
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 4
- Health-based
- 0
- Active health-based
- 0
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrite | IA7730012 | Archived | Feb 1, 2026through Feb 28, 2026 |
| Nitrite | IA7730012 | Archived | Jan 1, 2026through Jan 31, 2026 |
| Nitrite | IA7730012 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2024through Sep 30, 2024 |
| Nitrate | IA7730012 | Resolved | Oct 1, 2023through Sep 30, 2024 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Elkhart ZIP 50073 using 303 PPM nearby hardness and 2 reported measurement benchmarks.
Scale protection
High-Capacity Whole House Water Softener
303 PPM is 3× the high-hardness trigger used by this matcher.
Designed to reduce scale on fixtures, water heaters, glassware, and plumbing throughout the home.
Compare whole-house systemsDrinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile) has a measured benchmark flag or active health-based SDWIS record in this profile.
A certified multi-stage RO system targets a broader range of dissolved contaminants at the kitchen tap.
Explore under-sink filtrationAffiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you. Product matching is educational and does not replace certified water testing.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Elkhart
Is tap water safe in Elkhart?+
EPA ECHO shows no active health-based violation for the associated systems in this reporting snapshot. This does not prove every contaminant is absent; federal records can lag and household plumbing can change tap conditions.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 303 PPM, or 17.7 grains per gallon, classified as very hard. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
At 303 PPM, a correctly sized whole-house softener can reduce scale and hard-water spotting. It does not replace contaminant filtration.